Title holders Pyramids FC delivered a powerful statement of authority on Sunday, sealing top spot in Group A of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League with a commanding 4–1 victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
What began as a night of hope for the home side ultimately turned into a harsh lesson, as the Egyptian champions produced a ruthless second-half performance to overturn a first-half deficit and book their place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
Rivers United sent shockwaves through the stadium midway through the first half when Stephen Manyo unleashed a fierce long-range strike that flew past the goalkeeper to put the hosts ahead in the 33rd minute. The goal briefly ignited belief among the home fans and hinted at a potential upset.
That moment, however, proved to be Rivers United’s final stand.
Pyramids returned from the break with renewed urgency and control, quickly asserting their dominance. Their pressure paid off in the 53rd minute when Mostafa Fathy latched onto a precise pass from Mostafa Zico and calmly fired beyond the goalkeeper to restore parity.
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The equaliser decisively swung the momentum. Rivers United were forced deeper into their own half as Pyramids dictated the tempo, probing relentlessly and capitalising on growing defensive lapses.
The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute when a handball inside the penalty area gifted Pyramids the chance to take the lead. Marwan Hamdi stepped up and coolly converted the resulting penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and tilting the contest firmly in the visitors’ favour.
As Rivers United pushed forward in desperation, spaces opened up. Substitute Awda Al-Fakhoury marked his first goal for the club with a clinical finish in the 88th minute, before Nasser Maher added a fourth deep into stoppage time to cap a devastating 14-minute spell.
The victory lifts Pyramids FC to 13 points at the top of Group A, confirming their progression to the knockout stages in emphatic fashion. Rivers United remain rooted to the bottom with just one point and are now mathematically eliminated from the competition.
Pyramids will round off the group phase at home against Power Dynamos, already assured of their place in the quarter-finals and carrying strong momentum into the latter stages.
